Orange County NC Website
20 <br /> Commissioner Greene said the full list could be sent now, and the Board could refine it <br /> in preparation for the actual breakfast. <br /> Chair Price said she expects that is what will happen, and the goal for tonight was to <br /> refine the top priorities. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he is fine with having one list of everything, but that the <br /> Board should identify the top five things that it wants to focus on with the delegation. He said <br /> the longer list should be grouped by topic, but a cover page should be developed with five <br /> specific top goals. <br /> Chair Price asked if there should be two lists and groupings within those lists, or should <br /> there be one list with groupings. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said there should be one list with groupings under specific <br /> headings. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if the last day of filing for the General Assembly could be <br /> identified. <br /> John Roberts said it is April 6 in Senate, and the end of April in the House, but must be <br /> submitted to bill drafting by the first week of April. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if it is helpful to have the legislative breakfast occurring <br /> after filing is complete. <br /> John Roberts said this is the way it happens every year. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said perhaps this should be changed in the future. <br /> Commissioner McKee said it is important to identify five priorities tonight, so the County <br /> can notify the delegation. He said the other items are concerns, but the Board should focus on <br /> five items. He suggested broadband as one of the five items. <br /> Chair Price said the work group wanted a base to bring to the Board for discussion. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he understood why so many were presented. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated having the full list. He said he supports <br /> prioritizing broadband, minimum wage, racial equity and criminal justice, Leandro remedial <br /> action plan, and add OWASA. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she would like to add mental health. <br /> Commissioner McKee agreed. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked Commissioner Fowler if the Board wants to stick to five <br /> items, which one would she pull out. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked if Commissioner Dorosin could explain more about the <br /> OWASA issue. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said OWASA needs the authority to have flexible billing <br /> practices, which has been heightened by the economic issues around the pandemic. <br /> Chair Price said Representative Verla Insko already has a bill related to this in the <br /> works. <br /> Chair Price said she supports adding mental health. She said she would like to consider <br /> adding evictions information. She said it becomes important for preventing homelessness, as <br /> an eviction, in one's history, can prevent someone from getting housing. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said she thinks a list of five to eight priorities is fine, and it does <br /> not have to be five. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton asked if this document has a real impact. She said she does <br /> not want to get caught up in prioritizing, if the agenda does not have an impact on the <br /> delegation's activities. She said she sees this as an exercise in voicing Orange County's <br /> priorities. <br /> Commissioner Greene said the agenda has an impact as a voice for the residents of <br /> Orange County. She said it is more than a statement of values and interests. <br />